HOPEWELL AREA SCHOOL BOARD REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING AUGUST 22, 2017 The Board of Directors of the Hopewell Area School District met in regular session on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, in the Board Room, Administration Building, 2354 Brodhead Road, Hopewell Township. The meeting was called to order at 7:09 p.m. by Lesia Dobo, Board Vice President. Prayer and flag salute was led by Sheri Douglass. Roll call by the secretary followed. Those Directors in attendance were: John Bowden Lesia Dobo Rob Harmotto George Patterson Anna Segner Members Absent: David Bufalini Lori McKittrick Daniel Santia Jeffrey Winkle Also in attendance were: Dr. Michelle Miller, Superintendent; Dr. Jacie Maslyk, Assistant Superintendent; John Salopek, Solicitor; William McNamee, Interim Business Administrator; Nancy Barber, Secretary; Michael Allison, Principal; Sheri Douglass, Director of Transportation and visitors. Mrs. Dobo asked for approval of minutes. MOTION #1 By John Bowden, seconded by George Patterson, to approve items (1) and (2) as presented in accordance with the School Board s agreement for grouping items in a single motion. Approval of Minutes 1. Recommendation to approve the August 8, 2017 business meeting minutes as presented.
2. Recommendation to approve the July 25, 2017 work meeting minutes as presented. MOTION #2 By Rob Harmotto, seconded by George Patterson, to approve items (1) through (3) as Tax Collectors Report 1. Recommendation to accept report for taxes collected for the month of July 2017, as presented, and make said report a part of these minutes. Treasurer s Report 2. Recommendation to accept report of the Treasurer for the month of July 2017, as presented, and make said report a part of these minutes. Financial Statements 3. Recommendation to accept Financial Statements for the month of July 2017, as presented, and make said statements a part of these minutes. VISITOR'S COMMENTS Kerri Biesenkamp, Camille Houy, Melissa Hosack, Karen Przybysz and Jan Fisher all spoke of their concerns regarding class size in second grade at Independence Elementary School. They asked the Board to consider adding an additional teacher for that grade.
At this time Mrs. Dobo asked that Committee discussion and recommendations begin. Education/Curriculum/Instruction by George Patterson, Co-Chair MOTION #3 By George Patterson, seconded by Anna Segner, to approve items 1 through 7 as MOTION #4 1. 2017-2018 School Picnic at Kennywood on June 13, 2018. 2. List of Senior High Club & Activity Sponsors for the 2017-2018 School Year. 3. List of Junior High Club & Activity Sponsors for the 2017-2018 School Year. 4. 2017-2018 Department Chairpersons. 5. Request of Mike Gill to create a Robotics Club at the Junior High School. This would take place of the Math Counts Club, which has had dwindling enrollment. 6. Photography by James to provide photography services for the Yearbook and the Senior High School dances for the 2017-2018 School year. 7. Three year contract with Lifetouch National School Studios to provide school portraits. By George Patterson, seconded by John Bowden, to approve the following appointments. MOTION #5 a. Dr. Moka as District Physician - $10 per exam; b. Optometric Care as District Vision Examiner - $3.25 per exam; and c. Dr. Timothy Ungarean to provide dental exams - $5 per exam. By George Patterson, seconded by Anna Segner, to approve the agreement with the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit to provide ESL (English as a Second Language) for the 2017-2018 school year at a cost of $38.00 per hour. MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative vote of all Directors in attendance.
MOTION #6 By George Patterson, seconded by Rob Harmotto, to approve items 1 and 2, as presented in accordance with School Board s agreement for grouping items in a single motion. MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative vote of all Directors in attendance. 1. Free school privileges for Na Riya Martin to attend Hopewell Junior High School for the 2017-2018 school year. 2. Free school privileges for Na Tiya Martin to attend Margaret Ross Elementary School for the 2017-2018 school year. Athletics by George Patterson, Chair The District received approval by the PIAA on July 19, 2017 to terminate the Cooperative Sponsorship of Boys and Girls Soccer with the Aliquippa School District MOTION #7 Buildings and Grounds by Anna Segner, Chair By Anna Segner, seconded by John Bowden, to accept the quote from Air Systems Mechanical to upgrade and modernize the HVAC system at Margaret Ross Elementary School at a cost of $8,271.00. MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative vote of all Directors in attendance. MOTION #8 By Anna Segner, seconded by George Patterson, to approve items 1 through 4, as 1. Hopewell Soccer Club to use the Senior High School soccer field from August 15, 2017 through November 1, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for practice. 2. Request of Hopewell Youth Wrestling to use the Wrestling Room and Gym B at the Junior High School on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from October 17, 2017 through March 23, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for practice. 3. Request of Hopewell Youth Wrestling to use the Wrestling Room at the Junior High School on October 21, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for camp.
MOTION #9 4. Request of Hopewell Youth Wrestling to use Gym B at the Junior High School from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for a wrestling tournament. By Anna Segner, seconded by George Patterson to approve the request of Our Lady of Fatima to use the Senior High School practice soccer field from August through November and March through June on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for practice. MOTION #10 Finance and Budget by John Bowden, Chair By John Bowden, seconded by Anna Segner, to approve items (1) and (2) and to ratify item (3) as presented in accordance with School Board s agreement for grouping items in a single motion. MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative roll call vote of all Directors in attendance. 1. General Fund List of Bills in the amount of $380,541.33 2. Cafeteria Fund payments in the amount of $23,497.42 3. General Fund payments in the amount of $2,092,110.40 MOTION #11 By John Bowden, seconded by George Patterson, to approve the agreement with the Benedict Agency to provide Athletic Accident Insurance at a cost of $19,850.00. MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative vote of all Directors in attendance. MOTION TABLED John Bowden requested that the Board table the request of Charles W. Hull to purchase tax parcel #65-004-1307.000 located at 356 Manor Street out of repository. The 2016-2017 and prior years taxes shall be exonerated. All Directors in attendance agreed.
MOTION #12 Personnel by Rob Harmotto, Chair By Rob Harmotto, seconded by George Patterson, to approve items (1) and (2) as MOTION #13 1. Appointment of Erin Fritz as a volunteer assistant cross country coach. 2. Realignment of girl s soccer coaches and salaries. Head Coach Vincent Kortstam $4,735.00 1 st Assistant Ashley Murray $1,842.00 2nd Assistant Frank Montanagese $2,327.00 3rd Assistant Tina Cooper $2,123.00 Volunteer Mike Shutak TOTAL $11,027.00 By Rob Harmotto, seconded by Anna Segner, to approve the employment of Lydia Martin, transportation nurse monitor, effective August 3, 2017. MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative vote of all Directors in attendance. MOTION #14 By Rob Harmotto, seconded by John Bowden, to approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement with Hopewell Secretaries and Aides Education Support Professionals for the period of July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2020. MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative roll call vote of all Directors in attendance. MOTION #15 By Rob Harmotto, seconded by John Bowden, to approve the contract with PA- Educator.net to provide a clearinghouse for potential professional and non-certificated employees at an annual cost of $2,175.00. MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative vote of all Directors in attendance.
MOTION #16 By Rob Harmotto, seconded by Anna Segner, to approve the establishment of a new kindergarten classroom at Hopewell Elementary School for the 2017-2018 school year. MOTION #17 By Rob Harmotto, seconded by Anna Segner, to approve the furlough of the following paraprofessionals effective August 23, 2017: MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative vote of all Directors in attendance a. Georgette O Connor b. Lisa McClure-Steals MOTION #18 By Rob Harmotto, seconded by John Bowden, to approve items (1) through (4) as MOTION #19 1. Elimination of 2-hour breakfast position at Hopewell Senior High School, effective September 8, 2017. 2. Establish 2-hour lunch position at Hopewell Elementary School, effective September 11, 2017. 3. Resignation of Rhonda Fisher, bus driver, effective August 15, 2017. Ms. Fisher would like to remain on the substitute roster. 4. Resignation of Andrea Pifer, bus driver, effective August 9, 2017. Ms. Pifer would like to remain on the substitute roster. By Rob Harmotto, seconded by Anna Segner, to approve revisions to job description of all custodial and maintenance employees to include, reports to Buildings and Grounds Director and Assigned Building Principal and Assistant Principal. MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative vote of all Directors in attendance.
MOTION #20 By Rob Harmotto, seconded by Anna Segner, to approve revising job title of Guidance Counselor to School Counselor. MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative vote of all Directors in attendance. MOTION #21 Transportation by Rob Harmotto, Co-Chair By Rob Harmotto, seconded by George Patterson, to approve items (1) through (3) as MOTION carried unanimously by an affirmative roll call vote of all Directors in attendance. 1. Accept bid from Myers Equipment in the amount of $101,262.00 received on August 14, 2017 for purchase of two 2017 30-passenger buses. Funds to be taken from the Capital Reserve. 2. Accept bid from Myers Equipment in the amount of $95,152.00 received on August 14, 2017 for the purchase of one new 2018 48-passenger/wheelchair school bus. Funds to be taken from the Capital Reserve. 3. Accept bid from Woltz & Wind Ford in the amount of $27,855.00 received on August 14, 2017 for the purchase of a 2018 Transit 250 Base Medium Roof Cargo Van 130 WB. Funds to be taken from the Capital Reserve. Superintendent s Report Dr. Miller stated that all the staff is excited for the start of the new school year. She also stated that she continues to monitor enrollment numbers throughout the District. She is concerned about elementary numbers, especially second grade at Independence Elementary School. Dr. Miller and Dr. Maslyk reported that inservice on Monday and Tuesday went very well and that teachers throughout the district would focus on literacy for the inservice day tomorrow. Solicitor s Report Nothing to report.
Unfinished Business Nothing to report. Upcoming School Board Meetings ADJOURNMENT September 12, 2017, Regular Work Meeting, Central Administration September 26, 2017, Regular Business Meeting, Central Administration There being no further discussion or recommendations to come before the Board of Directors, Mrs. Dobo asked for a motion for adjournment. MOTION by Anna Segner, seconded by Rob Harmotto, that the meeting be adjourned. MOTION CARRIED. Mrs. Dobo adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. HOPEWELL AREA SCHOOL BOARD Lesia Dobo, Vice President Nancy Barber, Secretary